Belt buckle



' 3;. 10, 1930. J, A, MENDQSA 1,763,100

BELT BUCKLE Filed June 12. '1928 INVENTOR dA.]\4491 2d0:Sa BY (9 .QJAL

ATTORNE Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES JOHN A. MENDOSA, OF MATITECA, CALIFORNIA BELT BUCKLE Application filed June 12,

This invention relates to buckles for belts such as are worn as accessories to clothing and particularly to a buckle of that type which has means for detachable clamping engagement with one end of the belt. In all such belts of this general character as are now on the market, as far as I am aware, the clamping means on any one buckle is adapted for practically only one thickness of belt. If a thinner belt than that for which the buckle is designed is used in such buckle, the belt is apt to slip out. On the other hand if a relatively thick belt is used it must be first trimmed down in order that it will fit between the clamping jaw and the body of the buckle. This necessitates the use of different sized buckles to fit the different thicknesses of belts, or unsatisfactory results will be obtained.

The principal object of my invention therefore is to avoid the above defective and objectionable features by providing the buckle with a clamping means so arranged that a single sized buckle may take all thicknesses of belts with the same ease and with equal holding power so that a thin belt will not slip and a thick one does not need to be first trimmed down.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of my improved buckle showing a belt in connection therewith and with the clamping jaw open.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the buckle and belt showing the clamping jaw closed.

Figs. 3 to 5 are perspective views showing modified forms of buckle.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings and 1928. Serial No. 284,845.

particularly at present to Figures 1 and 2, the buckle comprises a body 1 which is provided with longitudinal spaced transverse 6 having outwardly projecting lugs 7 at the 3:

sides. Pivotally mounted on and extending between the lugs is an L-shaped clamping jaw comprising right-angled portions 8 and 9 whose junction lines up with the pivots. The portion 8 may be termed a lip and is adapted to lie substantially parallel to the plate 6 and overlap the same in spaced relation thereto; while the portion 9 is relatively shallow and has teeth 9 along its edge. and construction, and when the lip 8 is disposed as'above described, the teeth then project toward the plate 6 and bite into the belt 5, the end of which is initially passed between the plate and jaw. The distance between the jaw member 9 and the plate 6, when said member 9 is disposed parallel to the plate 6 as shown in Fig. 1, is sufficient to take a belt of the greatest thickness.

Mounted on the bar 3 intermediate its end and overhanging the plate 6 is a member 10 whose outer end is formed with a pin 11. This pin projects outwardly relative to the plate 6 and is disposed in the longitudinal plane between the bar 3 and the transverse plane of the jaw pivots. This pin is 'adapted'to 'project into a hole 12 punched in the belt adjacent its end. It will therefore be seen that when the belt is slipped under the jaw, and the hole 12 is engaged withthe pin 11, the belt will be positively held against being pulled away from the buckle when the jaw is closed, even though the belt is thin and the teeth do not deeply engage the belt. The closing of the jaw causes the lip 8 to overlap and bear against the end of the belt somewhat as shown in Fig. 2, so that the pin and belt hole are covered and there is no change for the belt to become disengaged from the pin.

This jaw is of ordinary character The above described type of buckle is the preferred one, since it is, I believe, the cheapest to construct. Also with this construction the additional clamping or belt holding means may in certain cases be easily attached to buckles already manufactured without having to change any portion of their standard parts. I may, if desired, however, provide the plates 6, 6 and 6 of the buckles shown in Figs. 3 to 5 respectively, with one, two or three upstanding pins 11 11 and 11 respectively, instead of the single flexibly mounted pin 11. These pins are rigid with the plates on which they are mounted and are obviously adapted to project into a corresponding number of holes punched in the belt. Also these pins may be of different shapes as illustrated. In any event however, it Will be evident that the function of these pins is the same as that of the pin 11 in the first described type.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A belt-buckle comprising a body, means mounted on the body and cooperating with one end of the same to adjustably engage and hold the free end of a belt, a plate mounted on the body and extending away from said one end thereof to flatly engage the belt at its opposite end, a pin project ing from the belt-engaging face of the plate to fit an orifice provided in the belt, and a clamping member pivoted on the plate for engagement with the face of the belt opposite to that engaged by the plate to hold the belt in such engagement, whereby to also prevent displacement of the pin from the belt-orifice.

2. A device as in claim 1, in which said clamping member comprises a lip arranged to overhang the adjacent end of the belt, and teeth formed with said lip at one end and extending at right angles thereto to engage the belt; the axis of said clamping member being disposed at the junction of the lip and teeth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN A. MENDOSA. 

